Bicycle-gear



' No. 607,658; Patented July 19, |898.-

D. W. GUILES.

BICYCLE GEAR.

(Application filed July 12, 1897.)

(No Model.).

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' Z13 a-Hoin @V'vtmeawa Unites States Parana rrrca DANIEL V. GUILES, OFPORTLAND, OREGON.

BICYCLE-GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,658, dated July 19,1898. Application filed July 12, 1897. Serial No. 644,204. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL XV. GUILES, of Portland, in the county ofMultnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in BicycleGears; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in'the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to bicyclegear, the object in view being toprovide,'in connection with the driving mechanism of a bicycle or otherfoot-propelled vehicle, means whereby the pedals may be disconnectedfrom the front driving sprocket-wheel, so as to allow the machine tocontinue its progress, at the same time enabling the pedals to be usedas footrests or coasters. 7

It is also the object of the invention to provide, in connection withsuch an arrangement, a brake adapted to be applied by foot-pressure.

The detailed objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thecourse of the subjoined description.

The invention consists in certain novel features and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings, and incorporated in the claims heretoappended.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of asufficient portion of a bicycle to illustrate the application of theimproved gear thereto. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the machine,taken in line with the crank-axle. Fig. 3 view showing the eccentric,pedal-crank, and spring between said parts. Fig. 4 is a side. elevation,partly in section, of the brake;

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral views.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the crank-axle of an ordinarysafety-bicycle to which the pedal-cranks and improved gear is applied,although it will be understood that the gear may be applied to anyfoot-propelled vehicle without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of the improvement herein described.

Secured to one end of the crank-axle 1 is an ordinary pedal-crank 2, andat the opposite is a detail perspective end of the crank-axle is a camor eccentric 3. Mounted loosely upon the crank-axle adjacent to theeccentric 3 is the front driving sprocket-wheel 4, having projectingfrom its inner'side a friction-rim or annularfiange 5 and having on itsouter side a ratchet-disk 6, provided with internally-arrangedratchetteeth 7. The remaining pedal-crank 8 is enlarged at its inner endto form a collar 9, which fits snugly, but loosely, around the eccentric3, said collar being provided upon that side opposite the crank 8 properwith a projecting tooth or lip 10 for engagement with the ratchet-teeth7 of the sprocket-wheel.

The eccentric 3 is provided with a segmen tal peripheral recess 11, inwhich works a tooth 12 on the inner surface of the collar 0, said toothserving to limit the relative rotative movement between the eccentric 3and collar 9. The eccentric 3 is provided at one point with a pin orlateral projection 13, to which is secured a bow or heart shaped spring15, the other end of the spring being attached to theprojection or tooth12, which is integral or attachedtothe collar and is adapted to engagethe ends of the recess 11, the tension of which is exerted by the spring15 to hold the two cranks 2 and 8 in alinement with each other forpropelling the machine. The spring 15 will, however, yield to allow thetooth or projection 12 to move to the opposite end of the recess 11, andin this manner one'of the cranks may be rocked into a position at anangle to the other crank. The arrangement is preferably such that byexerting a backward pressure on the right-hand crank and a forwardpressure on the lefthand crank both cranks may be depressed below ahorizontal line, and in this operation the tooth or projection 12 willtravel to the opposite end of the recess 11, thereby allowing asufficient movement of the eccentric 3 to withdraw the tooth or lip 10from e11- gagement with the teeth 7 of the disk 6.- This permits thesprocket-wheel and driving-chain, together with the driving-wheel of themachine,to continue their forward rotation while the cranks remainstationary, the latter be ing used as foot-rests or coasters. Uponreleasing the pressure from the rearwardly-extending crank the spring 15acts to uplift said crank, and by reason of the eccentric 3 acting onthe collar 9 the tooth or lip 10 is again moved into engagement with theratchetteeth 7, thus enabling both cranks to be used for propelling themachine. At the same time this does not interfere with the rigidity ofthe left-hand crank when the rider dismounts from the machine on thatside.

Fulcrumed upon the crank-hanger or adjacent part of the machine close tothe inner side of the sprocket-wheel and next to the friction-rim 5 is abrake-lever 16, one end of which is extended in such manner as to beengaged by the heel of the rider when exerting backward pressure on theright-hand crank. This brake-lever is provided with one or more shoes1'7, which may be brought into frictional engagement with the rim 5 whensaid leveris depressed by the heel. The fulcrum of the brake-lever iseccentric to the crank-axle, so that the cooperation of the brake-shoesand friction-rim is insured when the brake-lever is vibrated. The innersurface of the friction-rim 5 is preferably beveled and the brake-shoesare correspondingly and reversely beveled, so that there will be notendency of the brake-shoes and rim to separate when applying the brake.

A single wire will preferably be fastened on the frame in a verticalposition to prevent the heel from coming in contact with the wheel whilethe brake is being used.

' Having thus described the invention,what is claimed as new, anddesired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

1. In a bicycle gearor propulsion mechanism, the combination with ashaft, a pedalcrank and eccentric in rigid engagement with each other,ofa driving-wheel mounted loosely on the shaft, a pedal-crank movable uponthe eccentric and means operated by the movement of the crank on theeccentric for effecting an engagement of said pedal-crank with thedriving-wheel.

2. In a bicycle gear or propulsion mechanism, the combination with ashaft, a pedalcrank on one end of the same and an eccentrio on the otherend, a driving-wheel loosely mounted on the shaft and provided withratchet-teeth, a pedal-crank having a tooth or projecting portion forengagement with the ratchet-teeth of the driving-wheel said pedalcrankbeing loosely mounted on the eccentric,

3. In a bicycle gear or propulsion mechanism, the combination with ashaft, a pedalcrank on one end of the same and an eccentric on theother, a driving-wheel having a flange or recess said wheel beingrotatably mounted on the shaft, of a pedal-crank in movable engagementwith the eccentric said pedal crank having a projecting portion which isadapted to be brought into engagement with the flange or recess of thedriving wheel,

. 4. The combination with a crank-axle of a foot-propelled vehicle, of acrank fast thereon an eccentric fast thereon, a sprocket-wheel withinternal ratchet-teeth loose on the crankaXle, a second crank having acollar loosely surrounding said eccentric and provided with a toothedlip to engage the ratchet-teeth, and means for limiting the relativemovement between said eccentric and loose crank, substantially asdescribed.

5. The combination with a crank-axle of a foot-propelled vehicle, of twocranks one fast and the other loose thereon, an eccentric fast on saidcrank-axle, a collar on the loose crank loosely surrounding saideccentric and provided with a tooth or lip, means for limiting therelative rotative movement between said eccentric and collar, a springfor returning said parts to their normal operative positions, and adriving sprocket-wheel having an in ternal ratchet-tooth disk, allarranged for joint operation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

DANIEL XV. GUILES.

NVitnesses:

JOHN PooLE, E. A. RANKIN.

